Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-2pzkn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-05-22T05:42:58.420Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

A Novel Conceptual Model for the Flow and Transport in Fractured Rock

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 February 2011

V. Taivassalo  and
A. Hautojärvi
V. Taivassalo
Affiliation:
Technical Research Centre of Finland, Nuclear Engineering Laboratory, P.O.Box 169, SF-00181 Helsinki, Finland
A. Hautojärvi
Affiliation:
Technical Research Centre of Finland, Nuclear Engineering Laboratory, P.O.Box 169, SF-00181 Helsinki, Finland
Get access

Abstract

In crystalline rock groundwater flows predominantly in fractures and fissures. Strongly varying fracture aperture guides the flow preferentially in some parts of a fracture plane, in so called channels. In our hydraulic model the degree of channeling together with the aperture variation along a channel is included as a factor which is the ratio of the aperture from transmissivity measurements and the aperture from the tracer tests.

The developed transport model takes into account the coupling of molecular diffusion and advection in a velocity field varying linearly over a characteristic width. Various flow velocities in different parts of a channel cause a transient phase with non-Fickian behavior of dispersion. This might erroneously be attributed to other processes e.g. matrix diffusion when not taken into account in the migration modeling of tracers. Molecular diffusion across the flow field, however, tends to smooth out the transport time differences. With time the dispersion diminishes and becomes more symmetric in confined channels.

The concept and models have been applied to predict and interpret field experiments aimed to investigate transport over long distances in highly conductive fracture zones. The analyzed experiments have been performed at the Finnsjön research area in Sweden and they belong to the test case 5 of the INTRAVAL project.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 212: Symposium P – Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management XIV , 1990 , 831
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1991

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

1. Gelhar, L. W., Applications of stochastic models to solute transport in fractured rocks, SKB - Technical Report 87–05 (SKB, Stocholm, 1987), p. 55.Google Scholar
2. Novakowski, K. S. in Proceedings of the Fourth Canadian/American Conference on Hydrogeology, edited by Hitchon, B. and Bachu, S. (National Water Well Association, Dublin, Ohio, 1988) pp. 68–80.Google Scholar
3. Gale, J., Macleod, R., Welhan, J., Cole, C. and Vail, L., Hvdrogeological Characterization of the Stripa Site, Stripa Project, Technical Report 87–15, (SKB, Stockholm, 1987).Google Scholar
4. Abelin, H., Birgersson, L., Ågren, T., Neretnieks, I. and Moreno, L., Results of a channeling experiment in STRIPA. presented at GEOVAL-90 symposium May 14–17, Stockholm (to be published in symposium proceedings by OECD/NEA).Google Scholar
5. Tsang, Y.W. and Tsang, C.F., Water Resour.Res., 25 (9), 2076–2080 (1989).Google Scholar
6. Aris, R., Proc. Roy. Soc. Lond. A 235, 67–77 (1956).Google Scholar
7. Lighthill, M.J., J. Inst. Maths. Applies. 2, 97–108 (1966).Google Scholar
8. Chatwin, P.C., J. Fluid Mech. 7, 593–602 (1976).Google Scholar
9. Gill, W.N. and Sankarasubramanian, R., Proc. Roy. Soc. Lond. A 316, 341–350 (1970).Google Scholar
10. Andersson, B. and Berglin, T. Proc.Roy.Soc.Lond. A 377, 251–268 (1981).Google Scholar
11. Foister, R.T. and Van de Ven, T.G.M., J. Fluid Mech. 96, 105–132 (1980).Google Scholar
12. Smith, R., J. Fluid Mech. 111, 107–122 (1981).Google Scholar
13. Taylor, G.I., Proc. Roy. Soc. Lond. A 219, 186–203 (1953).Google Scholar
14. Hautojärvi, A. and Taivassalo, V., INTRAVAL PROJECT, Test case 5: Tracer tests at Finnsjön, Predictive modelling of the radially converging experiment, Report YJT-88–13, Nuclear Waste Commission of Finnish Power Companies (1988).Google Scholar
15. INTRAVAL project, Phase I, Final Reports, to be publishedGoogle Scholar
16. Andersson, P., Tracer Experiments in a Fracture Zone at Finnsjön Research Area -Test Case Description, IRAP 87400, Swedish Geological Co (1987).Google Scholar
17. Andersson, J.-E., Ekman, L. and Winberg, A., Detailed Investigations of Fracture Zones in the Brändan Area.Finnsjön Study Site, IRAP 87367, Swedish Geological Co (1987).Google Scholar
18. Andersson, J.-E., Ekman, L. and Hansson, K., Single Hole Water Injection Tests in Borehole BFi2 within the Brändan Area, Finnsjön Study Site, IRAP 88208, Swedish Geological Co (1988).Google Scholar
19. Moye, D.G., Civ. Engg. Trans. I.E.Aust., April 1967, 95–100.Google Scholar
20. Gustafsson, E. et al., Radially Converging Tracer Experiment in a Low-Angle Fracture Zone at. the Finnsjön Research Site, Central Sweden, IRAP 88313 (DRAFT), Swedish Geological Co (1989).Google Scholar
21. Andersson, Peter et al., Dipole Tracer Experiment in a Low-Angle Fracture Zone at the Finnsjön Research Site, Central Sweden - Experimental design and preliminary results, IRAP 90 206, Swedish Geological Co (1990).Google Scholar